ctnow.com: Sweet Jane's Rock & Roll Eatery

Sweet Jane's Rock & Roll Eatery

88 Pratt Street, Hartford, 860-882-6754

By David Moran
Special to ctnow.com

August 21 2006

Sweet Jane's Rock & Roll Eatery is situated at a downtown Hartford location that's seen more than its fair share of turnover in bars and clubs the past few years.

Lord Jim's, the Enchanted Garden, and Club 88 have all come and gone from 88 Pratt Street in less time than it takes the average bar patron to shout, "Hey bartender, 'nother round over here." in less time than it takes the average bar patron to shout, "Hey bartender, 'nother round over here."

But Sweet Jane's is hoping to solidify its status on the Hartford area nightlife scene by filling a niche that no other downtown club or bar currently seems to be catering to: a Rock & Roll, sports-themed bar for the young, professional set.

The Vibe: Laid back, definitely. With almost 6,000 square feet of floor space split between upstairs and downstairs levels, Sweet Jane's is more than large enough to pack in the crowds, but the friendly, down to earth wait and bar staff seem like seasoned pros at making you feel, regardless of the crowd, as though you've actually stepped into a quaint, quite neighborhood pub. And the eight big screen TVs mounted behind the bar and at judicious locations around the dining area are usually kept tuned to the local area favorites, so you don't have to worry about missing the big game for a night out. Upstairs features two pool tables, a darts and video game area, and a jukebox.

The Crowd: All depends on the day that you go, and the hour of that day. Happy Hour, Wednesdays thru Fridays, one should expect to find the dark slacked and tied, cubicle dweller crowd. Once the sun goes down, however, all bets are off, and appropriate attire more often than not depends on the evening's acoustical theme. But Sweet Jane's also seems like the type of place where jeans and a t-shirt or the jersey of your favorite player from your favorite team are always cool too.

The Music Varies per day or night. Tuesdays are open mic night, so single acts or full bands are more than welcome to jump up on stage and jam. Wednesdays are reggae themed. A guest DJ typically spins 80's rock all night long on Thursdays. Fridays are a bit mellower in tone, devoted to live acoustic performers. And on Saturday nights Sweet Jane's hosts a local area band, most often featuring a nice mixture of original stuff and cover tunes. Remember, though, it's not called Sweet Jane's Rock & Roll Eatery for nothing, so if you're the type who gets upset when the music's tuned a little too loud, you'd probably be better off staying home.

Drinks – Plenty for this category. For the adventurous, there's a long, long list of colorful martinis and specialty drinks that will run you anywhere from $5 to $9. For the not-so-adventurous, there's plenty to choose from in that category as well. Sweet Jane's features 14 beers on tap and 31 different varieties of bottles. Sweet Jane's Blonde Ale, their only local offering, is a light, mildly sweet brew that'd be perfect for kicking back to watch a ballgame on a hot summer's day. Mondays feature $2 drafts all night long, while the cost of a beer at Wednesday-Friday Happy Hour won't run set you back more than $2.50. Happy Hour also includes a complimentary buffet.

Eats: The one area where Sweet Jane's could stand some improvement. At this point, the small menu is limited to common bar fare – sandwiches, wraps, grilled paninis and assorted deep fried appetizers. But there are a few interesting salads to catch the eye of the health-conscious, particularly the Cranberry & Walnut Salad with crumbled feta cheese and herb vinaigrette dressing over mixed greens. The wraps are a mouthful, too, and pack a spicy kick, but come with tortilla chips and pickles instead of French fries. Dessert options weren't much to write home about either.

Costs: Sweet Jane's ain't gonna break anybody's bank anytime soon. The most expensive item on the menu, the Chef's Salad with ham, turkey and roast beef, topped out at $8.99. The average appetizer or sandwich costs around $5 to $6. But, again, keep in mind the truncated menu, especially if you're in the market for a full dinner.

Bottom Line: A rocking, rowdy time in downtown Hartford just about any night of the week. Might want to think about eating before hand, though.

About the writer: At 25-years-old, David Moran is a writer who writes…uh, stuff. Some days he writes more stuff than on other days, other days, less (stuff). He enjoys: Comic books, monkeys, comic books about monkeys, and writing about himself in the first person. Sadly, though, David Moran has yet to successfully succeed in combining these varied, diverse interests into anything even the least bit useful…yet.